Inequalities and the Post-2015 Development Agenda

Rheem Al-Adhami & Shahra Razavi – This brief argues that reducing inequality should be seen as a goal in itself. It should also be reflected in other goals. Targets could be set for within country inequalities — inequalities across regions, gender, ethnicity, income status — in development goals dealing with human development indicators. MDG reports already disaggregate in terms of these social categories, but there are no targets to hold governments accountable. A more nuanced interpretation of shifts in Gini coefficients could help assess change since some countries may be making progress in reducing inequalities but may still fall short of the desired target of 0.4.